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RTE Radio 1 on 252!

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    SPDUB wrote: »
    Well RTE have their campaign to shut down 252 underway as this morning they overrode the start of Morning Ireland to broadcast a shutdown message .

    This is no surprise. They are hellbent on doing this - How to irritate your audience and alienate certain loyal cohorts who tuned-in. The difference these days is that RTÉ are no longer the only legally approved show in town in Irish Radio or TV or competition from multi-channel land at home and abroad.

    Independent and/or Local Community Radio broadcasters may decide to fill the void as many local radio stations can dedicate generous periods reading out local death notices. They can hear it with ease loud and clear on FM in their local rural regions often unlike RTÉ on FM at present. They can also hear it in the car while on the move. It comes as no surprise that Local Independent Radio is alive and strong in this country all these years after it took over after the pirates were shut down. RTÉ can be too Dublin4 orientated at times and needs to remember it is the national broadcaster for all the people.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    Not really a precedent; you can't really compare TV to Radio 1 LW, so while they may have had to put in place a fall-back for TV, there just isn't the same need to do so for the LW service.

    When you consider the complex special arrangements they had to put in place for the SaorSat digital satellite service for just 2% of the population when the service was already available via an Irish Sky Digital subscription package, i definitely think it was a very clear precedent being put down. It must not have been a cheap fix either I imagine. They were switching off analogue terrestrial in favour of digital terrestrial for TV.

    In the current situation they are switching off programmes currently carried in analogue format on the national radio channel and telling them to tune-in to digital but it is not available for this cohort of people unless they subscribe to UPC/SKY or have Broadband Internet and are computer savy or they can tune in on Saorview but will be restricted to staying in same room with TV set on! It is messy and complicated for senior citizens.

    There are better ways to carry this service in my view even when they switch off LW. They seem to be doing their best to downgrade this line of programming for years given the way they shifted the same programming yet again rather than re-arranging some of the other small niche minority radio services operated by RTÉ on FM. Services like RnaG, lyric fm need to be examined a bit more closely in terms of the length of hours broadcast on FM each day. How cost effective are they versus their audience numbers hour by hour?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,309 ✭✭✭former legend


    When you consider the complex special arrangements they had to put in place for the SaorSat digital satellite service for just 2% of the population when the service was already available via an Irish Sky Digital subscription package, i definitely think it was a very clear precedent being put down. It must not have been a cheap fix either I imagine. They were switching off analogue terrestrial in favour of digital terrestrial for TV.

    In the current situation they are switching off programmes currently carried in analogue format on the national radio channel and telling them to tune-in to digital but it is not available for this cohort of people unless they subscribe to UPC/SKY or have Broadband Internet and are computer savy or they can tune in on Saorview but will be restricted to staying in same room with TV set on! It is messy and complicated for senior citizens.

    There are better ways to carry this service in my view even when they switch off LW. They seem to be doing their best to downgrade this line of programming for years given the way they shifted the same programming yet again rather than re-arranging some of the other small niche minority radio services operated by RTÉ on FM. Services like RnaG, lyric fm need to be examined a bit more closely in terms of the length of hours broadcast on FM each day. How cost effective are they versus their audience numbers hour by hour?

    What line of programming? What exactly would people miss if it went off the air? (apart from mass)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    What line of programming? What exactly would people miss if it went off the air? (apart from mass)

    You can often find sports broadcast on there like Republic of Ireland live soccer matches especially when not covered live on Free-To-Air television, horse-racing, religious services and that's just off the top of my head.

    You also find that there are some people that used rely on the service all the time as their FM was not an option. Sometimes the LW service used only differ to FM when the alternate programmes came on like the Sunday morning religious programmes or a match on mid-week.

    I'm not sure if the feed will be identical to Radio One Extra feeds when LW 252kHz is switched off altogether. If this was to occur then these listeners without FM reception in certain areas could have great fun trying to hear any Radio One programmes as they normally go out live. I'm sticking up for our senior citizens who are not tech savy or great and internet/mobile and all this stuff. Also think of drivers/commuters who want Radio One and FM/DAB coverage is very erratic up/down country's roads. Saorview/Sky/UPC is not practical for them if they wanna listen on the move regularly.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 285 ✭✭Cork_chick_94


    I don't agree that elderly people in rural republic of Ireland are dependent on LW, Sure the most popular radio stations in rural ireland for elderly people is the local radio staion (Midwest. Highland. Clare Fm etc) which have been FM only since they launched 25? years ago.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,309 ✭✭✭former legend


    You can often find sports broadcast on there like Republic of Ireland live soccer matches especially when not covered live on Free-To-Air television, horse-racing, religious services and that's just off the top of my head.

    You also find that there are some people that used rely on the service all the time as their FM was not an option. Sometimes the LW service used only differ to FM when the alternate programmes came on like the Sunday morning religious programmes or a match on mid-week.

    I'm not sure if the feed will be identical to Radio One Extra feeds when LW 252kHz is switched off altogether. If this was to occur then these listeners without FM reception in certain areas could have great fun trying to hear any Radio One programmes as they normally go out live. I'm sticking up for our senior citizens who are not tech savy or great and internet/mobile and all this stuff. Also think of drivers/commuters who want Radio One and FM/DAB coverage is very erratic up/down country's roads. Saorview/Sky/UPC is not practical for them if they wanna listen on the move regularly.

    The live soccer is always on 2fm now.

    Whatever way you slice it, it's a service for a tiny number of people at a time when RTE is very hard up for cash. I'm surprised it's lasted as long as it has tbh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,139 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    At the end of the day, it's public money being used to fund a service that only has a handful of listeners, the vast majority of whom will be able to access the service in an alternative way. That's not a good use of RTE resources and it's a no-brainer in the end. The same arguments arose during the digital TV switchover when a lot more people were affected and the sky didn't fall in.
    not those listening via LW who are most likely elderly or have issues with fm coverage. so its not a no brainer at all until coverage via other means is almost. and accessing the service is easy. its public money so its even more important to use it to make sure everybody has easy access and full reception of RTE services. doing so is good use of public money

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words.



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 285 ✭✭Cork_chick_94


    I heard a gombeen sounding country fella from RTE talking about this on RTE 1 the other day, he was talking as if LW was only launched as a fill in service for FM black spots in ireland. Well i remember when RTE launched this service, they were very much plugging the fact that it was for listeners in the uk and beyond.they used to make a big deal about it on all ireland final weekends at the start.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,341 ✭✭✭SPDUB



    You also find that there are some people that used rely on the service all the time as their FM was not an option..

    While not my only option the reason I heard the announcement this morning was because the LW signal is the only one which is steady because I move around a lot where I work and even a mono FM signal breaks up a lot


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    I don't agree that elderly people in rural republic of Ireland are dependent on LW, Sure the most popular radio stations in rural ireland for elderly people is the local radio staion (Midwest. Highland. Clare Fm etc) which have been FM only since they launched 25? years ago.

    i appreciate that then Independent Radio Stations first licensed here in the Republic by the then IRTC were more or less all given spectrum on the FM wavelength (former national independent channel: Century Radio had both FM and 1143kHz MW) but my concern is not about LW listeners being re-directed to FM services. The current LW 252kHz service feed is going to be Digital Only.

    I believe the only reason those had been listening to the LW 252kHz service were mainly the following reasons:

    Unable to obtain satisfactory or reliable reception coverage on FM wave lengths
    No FM reception at all in their local area
    Irish expats located in Northern Ireland/Isle of Man/Great Britain/Channel Islands & Western Europe.
    Those who wanted easy access to those services broadcast via LW 252kHz be they Senior Citizens who enjoyed programmes like Sunday Miscellany and so on which were shoved off FM in previous times.
    Those who commute or drive regularly up/down parts of rural Ireland who want to hear RTÉ Radio One but were forced to tune-in via LW 252kHz because FM breaks down a lot in certain places. Such listeners were not necessarily interested in Sunday morning religious services or occasional sports but wanted Radio One via an alternative reliable method when FM broke down while they were on the move.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 285 ✭✭Cork_chick_94




  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    Yes, I recall when Atlantic 252 was first launched as the pirate radio stations had all been forced to close down forever not long before this period. Radio Tara t/a Atlantic 252 on LW252kHz had some interesting DJ names: Dusty Rhodes, Sandy Beech, Robin Banks, Charlie Wolfe, Nails Mahoney Henry Owens. In fact Henry Owens was actually Henry Condon who had very strong Cork connections and this gent was behind the start-up and launch of Cork's RED fm 104-106mHz in 2001 which was around the time Atlantic 252 closed down and Charlie Wolfe was the original host of the live nightly talk show Cork Talks Back before Victor Barry replaced Wolfe. Henry Condon (aka Henry Owens) who headed up RED fm when it first launched around 2001 passed away some time last year if I am not mistaken.

    September, 1989 was also when Ireland's very first national commercial independent station, Century Radio began broadcasting around 100mHz FM and also on 1143kHz Medium Wave. Marty Whelan jumped from RTÉ Radio 2FM to become Century Radio Breakfast Show host on weekdays and Terry Wogan also had a pre-recorded programme every Saturday morning on the same station in it's early days. Unfortunately the station was up against a strong RTÉ monopoly at the time and the station closed suddenly around November 1991. The next time Ireland had a national commercial independent station would be the launch of Radio Ireland around March 1997 and within 12-18months of launching it would be re-branded as TODAY FM which has been a great success despite a shaky start!


  • Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭Mr. Rabbit


    LW252kHz had some interesting DJ names

    I'm sure I remember a DJ called Dickie Bird somewhere in there :)

    Perhaps if RTE had stuck with 567 kHz they would have had far more listeners on AM.

    To be honest, I couldn't quite figure out why they shut 567 kHz in favour of 252 kHz long wave. Many car radios don't have long wave now.


  • Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭Mr. Rabbit


    Century Radio began broadcasting around 100mHz FM and also on 1143kHz Medium
    Wave.

    That was always the problem with Century Radio, not just the competition from RTE. Did they ever have any other FM transmitters other than Three Rock ?

    The joke was that if you parked the car halfway up a mountain somewhere you could just about receive a signal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,313 ✭✭✭Mycroft H


    Mr. Rabbit wrote: »
    I'm sure I remember a DJ called Dickie Bird somewhere in there :)

    Perhaps if RTE had stuck with 567 kHz they would have had far more listeners on AM.

    To be honest, I couldn't quite figure out why they shut 567 kHz in favour of 252 kHz long wave. Many car radios don't have long wave now.

    Long wave has a greater range.

    It could be picked up in northern France at night. You'd lose medium wave on the ferry...


  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,459 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    Mr. Rabbit wrote: »
    That was always the problem with Century Radio, not just the competition from RTE. Did they ever have any other FM transmitters other than Three Rock ?

    The joke was that if you parked the car halfway up a mountain somewhere you could just about receive a signal.
    Weren't they on 98.4 from Maghera too?


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Century were on FM in the larger cities alright but much of the country could only get it on MW.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    Mr. Rabbit wrote: »
    I'm sure I remember a DJ called Dickie Bird somewhere in there

    i think it was Dickie Bow.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    Karsini wrote: »
    Century were on FM in the larger cities alright but much of the country could only get it on MW.

    MW was only in Dublin I think. Maybe Cork too, not sure. Certainly not the rest of the country.
    FM was just Dublin and Limerick (?).


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 285 ✭✭Cork_chick_94


    Why was Century radio called an national station if it was only in 3 counties ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭Mr. Rabbit


    Mycroft H wrote: »
    Long wave has a greater range.

    It could be picked up in northern France at night. You'd lose medium wave on the ferry...

    567 kHz covered all of Ireland and much of mainland GB as well.

    I can't imagine there being too many listeners in Northern France.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    It was most likely cheaper to run a new 300kW LW transmitter than to run a 1975-vintage 500kW MW transmitter. Probably boiled down to that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭Mr. Rabbit


    Why was Centery called an national station if it was only in 3 counties ?

    Exactly.

    At least when Radio Ireland launched it covered pretty much all of the country, which is why it succeeded (albeit as Today FM) and Century failed.

    I remember being pleasantly surprised when 105.5 from Clermont Cairn was activated.


  • Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭Mr. Rabbit


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    i think it was Dickie Bow.

    Yep, that was him.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    Why was Century radio called an national station if it was only in 3 counties ?

    It was supposed to be national but RTE were responsible;) for the transmitters.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 285 ✭✭Cork_chick_94


    It was very extravagant of RTE in the celtic tiger days when they were broadcasting R1 on FM, MW 567 and 729 in cork as well as 252lw.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    It was very extravagant of RTE in the celtic tiger days when they were broadcasting R1 on FM, MW 567 and 729 in cork as well as 252lw.

    I remember in those days in Cork City you had an opt out service between RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ Radio Cork (aka Cork 89FM) for many years for the RTÉ Cork Local Radio service. The best signal in Cork for RTÉ Radio 1 was the one when services split to RTÉ Cork Local Radio from around 11:00am-12:58 CorkAboutNoon (the programme used originally start around 12noon but the name stuck long afterwards) and from about 2:45-4:00 Afternoon Tea with Stevie B (Steve Bolger) 4:00-5:58pm Home-Spin with various presenters and there were RTÉ Cork Local Radio opt-outs from the main RTÉ Radio 1 FM across Sat/Sun as well.

    You usually had to re-tune to 90mHz FM for Radio 1 from Dublin during the times Cork 89FM was on air and I think 567kHz MW was for Radio 1 while 729kHz was Cork Local Radio

    In fact there were other national opt-outs from RTÉ Radio 1 FM such as the FM 3 Classical Music in the afternoons which was around in the days prior to RTÉ lyric fm. The arrival of Independent Radio Stations with longer full-time hours probably caused the rapid decline of this service and it was eventually axed in early 2000s despite local campaigns from the likes of Jimmy Crowley and other artists who were upset when it closed down. I reckon the RTÉ Radio 1 continuity announcers used have great fun during programme signposts trying to inform listeners about this service in Cork, FM3 on here, not to mention any other MW opt-outs for sports or whatever.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    It was very extravagant of RTE in the celtic tiger days when they were broadcasting R1 on FM, MW 567 and 729 in cork as well as 252lw.

    Actually i meant to say on previous post that Long Wave LW 252kHz was Atlantic 252 from about 1989 - 2001.

    I don't recall RTÉ Radio 1 being officially on LW 252kHz and also on Medium Wave 567+729kHz at the same time unless perhaps it was during a short transitional period and for testing purposes.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    Century Radio was on FM if I recall in Dublin, Cork and Limerick areas only
    RTÉ were the sub-contractor responsible for delivery of the Century Radio signal coverage at the time as far as I know
    In fact the station could claim they were national as this was the licence they sought and operated from the then regulator for independent broadcasting in Ireland, the IRTC (Independent Radio and Television Commission)
    Century was also broadcast on AM 1143kHz on Medium Wave nationwide which also meant they claim they were available as a national service as this was from September 1989 to November 1991 period long before Internet/Mobile signals were widespread.
    Century were dogged with reception issues and even re-launched name to "Century 100" and this station was backed by concert promoter Oliver Barry, James Stafford and Chris DeBurgh.
    It closed at very short notice one evening in November 1991


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 285 ✭✭Cork_chick_94


    Actually i meant to say on previous post that Long Wave LW 252kHz was Atlantic 252 from about 1989 - 2001.

    I don't recall RTÉ Radio 1 being officially on LW 252kHz and also on Medium Wave 567+729kHz at the same time unless perhaps it was during a short transitional period and for testing purposes.

    R1 was on FM, MW and Lw from 2004-2008


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    Century Radio was on FM if I recall in Dublin, Cork and Limerick areas only
    RTÉ were the sub-contractor responsible for delivery of the Century Radio signal coverage at the time as far as I know
    In fact the station could claim they were national as this was the licence they sought and operated from the then regulator for independent broadcasting in Ireland, the IRTC (Independent Radio and Television Commission)
    Century was also broadcast on AM 1143kHz on Medium Wave nationwide which also meant they claim they were available as a national service as this was from September 1989 to November 1991 period long before Internet/Mobile signals were widespread.
    Century were dogged with reception issues and even re-launched name to "Century 100" and this station was backed by concert promoter Oliver Barry, James Stafford and Chris DeBurgh.
    It closed at very short notice one evening in November 1991
    1143 was not nationwide.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    R1 was on FM, MW and Lw from 2004-2008

    I did not realise that they had RTÉ Radio 1 on all three wavelengths: FM, MW & LW for such a long period. I think I only took notice because of the campaign when they announced MW 567+729kHz was to be switched off and would continue to be available on LW 252kHz back at that time.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    1143 was not nationwide.

    That's how Century Radio seemed to promoted the service at the time but nothing would surprise me as it was no secret that they were frustrated over technical/reception coverage issues in parts of Ireland and eventually they probably lost a lot of money in not reaching a sufficient audience which meant losses in advertising revenue. I often got the impression that they used be very unhappy with RTÉ over transmission issues.

    I used really enjoy Century Radio as I was lucky enough to receive it clearly on FM in Cork City and i still remember the first programme when the then former FF Minister for Communications, Ray Burke TD performed the opening address and Marty Whelan's Breakfast Show was the first programme to air on the channel. He gave up a lot in terms of RTÉ TV & Radio committments at the time when he joined Century Radio.

    Marty had "Late Night with Marty Whelan" 10-12midnight Mon-Fri on RTÉ Radio 2 FM
    Marty had a weekly column in RTÉ Guide called "Marty's Sound & Vision"
    Marty actually launched and hosted the TV Quiz "Where In The World" for about a year before Theresa Lowe took over the reigns.
    Marty also had a very successful TV Show "Video File" whereby he used interview famous music artists at a time when MTV was only emerging in Europe.

    When Century Radio closed suddenly way back in 1991 Marty was unemployed for quite a while and it took a long time of knocking on the door of RTÉ before he would get any new gigs and although he has done prime-time tv/radio he was definitely a bigger star up to 1989.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,704 ✭✭✭Infoanon


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    MW was only in Dublin I think. Maybe Cork too, not sure. Certainly not the rest of the country.
    FM was just Dublin and Limerick (?).

    FM in Dublin, Cork and Limerick though the iirc the Cork TX was running well below its supposed power for many months - allegedly just the exciter - and the AMs were in Dublin and Cork on a few hundred watts and unaudible at night due to interferance.

    RTE provided the transmission facilities.....


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    We used have fierce problems with all FM radio reception where I used work at a printing press plant in Cork City Centre in 1990/1991

    A simple re-tune to AM usually solved problems with little or no interference.
    Medium Wave on 1278kHz to hear pop/rock music tracks on RTÉ Radio 2FM
    Medium Wave on 1143kHz to hear pop/rock music on Century Radio
    Long Wave on 252kHz for pop/rock music on Atlantic 252

    We definitely received Century Radio loud and clear on 1143AM in Cork City anyway


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭Antenna


    Infoanon wrote: »
    FM in Dublin, Cork and Limerick though the iirc the Cork TX was running well below its supposed power for many months - allegedly just the exciter -

    I remember that was said about Limerick not Cork.

    In the very early days the transmit power of the local station in Limerick was also dropped by RTE (who provided its transmission) for a time as reportedly they were slow to pay up !
    Infoanon wrote: »
    RTE provided the transmission facilities.....

    not the two MWs

    Century Radio was on FM if I recall in Dublin, Cork and Limerick areas only

    That's the way it started but added coverage around the country as time went on. Many transmitters were temporarily outside 100-102 for a time before being moved into that range. It was probably eventually on all main transmitters (except Clermont Carn?) when it closed


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭Antenna



    In fact there were other national opt-outs from RTÉ Radio 1 FM such as the FM 3 Classical Music in the afternoons which was around in the days prior to RTÉ lyric fm.

    'FM3' was not an opt-out of RTE Radio 1's FM, 'FM3' timeshared the same transmission with RnaG.
    RNaG up to some point used to close for a while in the afternoons meaning FM3 could be available then, as well as in the evenings.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,237 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    Infoanon wrote: »
    FM in Dublin, Cork and Limerick though the iirc the Cork TX was running well below its supposed power for many months - allegedly just the exciter - and the AMs were in Dublin and Cork on a few hundred watts and unaudible at night due to interferance.

    RTE provided the transmission facilities.....

    Back in 1989 RTE were to provide the FM and UHF link network for Century but they disagreed on the rate; RTE wanted IR £614k while Century wanted to pay around £300k. The then Minister for Communications, Ray Burke, intervened in the dispute and decided that Century should pay just £100,000. Furthermore, in 1990 he announced a cap on income from advertisements on RTE radio and TV.

    RTE knew that the required network and back up facilities could not be supplied at this rate. In an act of corporate defiance, they simply dragged their heels in and didn't supply it to Century outside of the major urban areas; even then what was supplied was lower powered and modulated below the required levels.

    It was found out over time that Ray Burke had received illegal payments from the consortium behind Century; this explained their granting of the licence and some of his bizarre decisions in favour of the consortium during their short life.

    On the AM facility in Dublin, they used the old Sunshine transmitter which was still sited on the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock. Although weak it could get into odd places; I actually picked it up on London's M 25 in July 1991! I recall the hotel getting ads on the station; I often wondered if they were freebies in lieu. Eamon Cooke apparently took the rig about 20 years ago and ran it on full power from his house in Clondalkin. God knows what he done to it over time :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,704 ✭✭✭Infoanon


    On the AM facility in Dublin, they used the old Sunshine transmitter which was still sited on the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock. Although weak it could get into odd places; I actually picked it up on London's M 25 in July 1991! I recall the hotel getting ads on the station; I often wondered if they were freebies in lieu. Eamon Cooke apparently took the rig about 20 years ago and ran it on full power from his house in Clondalkin. God knows what he done to it over time :pac:

    Sunshine operated a few hundred watts on 531 AM, a few hundred watts on 1143 will not get as far,there is a significant fall off the higher the frequency.

    Re RTE 252 - I am still waiting for the backlash against the decision, the effective lose of religious programmes on Sundays maybe the key.

    Its only a year or so since Radio 1 extra left Sky - indicates a lack of an overall strategy imho.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,237 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    Infoanon wrote: »
    Sunshine operated a few hundred watts on 531 AM, a few hundred watts on 1143 will not get as far,there is a significant fall off the higher the frequency. .

    The studio AM TX was a wee bit more capable than a few hundred watts ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,704 ✭✭✭Infoanon


    The studio AM TX was a wee bit more capable than a few hundred watts ;)

    AFAIK Sunshine originally had a 750watt marconi rig, a second marconi rig was acquired but never combined (to give 1.5kw).

    After the raids a 1kw Gates rig was acquired but never ran above 800 watts.

    Sunshine had 2 AMs on air from mid 86? - both from Portmarnock.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,704 ✭✭✭Infoanon


    Eamon Cooke apparently took the rig about 20 years ago and ran it on full power from his house in Clondalkin. God knows what he done to it over time :pac:

    The AM transmitter that Radio Dublin used after the 5kw was seized was a <1kw rig donated by LLCR.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    Antenna wrote: »
    'FM3' was not an opt-out of RTE Radio 1's FM, 'FM3' timeshared the same transmission with RnaG.
    RNaG up to some point used to close for a while in the afternoons meaning FM3 could be available then, as well as in the evenings.

    My apologies for sharing incorrect details re: former FM3. I never recalled that it used the same wavelength on FM as RnaG when the Irish service would close at regular intervals in those earlier days. Interesting to hear this.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    Infoanon wrote: »
    Re RTE 252 - I am still waiting for the backlash against the decision, the effective lose of religious programmes on Sundays maybe the key. Its only a year or so since Radio 1 extra left Sky - indicates a lack of an overall strategy imho.

    I know, it had appeared for all who had a SKY Digibox under the label "RTÉ Europe" on Channel EPG No: 0142 for quite a while while the other RTÉ Radio Stations were around the current placings in the SKY EPG Radio Guide 0160s. It seems odd that they would remove it ahead of closing the service as this is a Digital stream in effect and I have not noticed any other channel broadcasting on 0142 since RTÉ Europe (RTÉ Radio 1 Extra) vacated the SKY service altogether a while back.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    Back in 1989 RTE were to provide the FM and UHF link network for Century but they disagreed on the rate; RTE wanted IR £614k while Century wanted to pay around £300k. The then Minister for Communications, Ray Burke, intervened in the dispute and decided that Century should pay just £100,000. Furthermore, in 1990 he announced a cap on income from advertisements on RTE radio and TV. RTE knew that the required network and back up facilities could not be supplied at this rate. In an act of corporate defiance, they simply dragged their heels in and didn't supply it to Century outside of the major urban areas; even then what was supplied was lower powered and modulated below the required levels. It was found out over time that Ray Burke had received illegal payments from the consortium behind Century; this explained their granting of the licence and some of his bizarre decisions in favour of the consortium during their short life.

    Oh the former Minister for Communications, Ray Burke left a very negative legacy in what should have been a bright new start to the Independent Commercial Radio sector in this country and it was years before things were back on track. Ireland had no national independent commercial station to compete with RTÉ Radio after Century closed down in late 1991 until "Radio Ireland" launched around March 1997.

    The same station re-invented itself after about 12 months and became TODAY FM and the start of the relaunch would have seen great celebrations with the signing of Ian Dempsey who departed the succeesful RTÉ Radio 2FM Breakfast Show for a new rival breakfast show which began on TODAY FM around September 1998.

    2FM probably declined from then onwards although it still would have The Gerry Ryan Show until April 2010 but the rest of 2FM was clinging to Gerry as his show still had huge audience reach and advertising revenues which were probably slowly declining year by year even prior to his untimely death.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    Infoanon wrote: »
    AFAIK Sunshine originally had a 750watt marconi rig, a second marconi rig was acquired but never combined (to give 1.5kw).

    After the raids a 1kw Gates rig was acquired but never ran above 800 watts.

    Sunshine had 2 AMs on air from mid 86? - both from Portmarnock.
    I believe originally they used 2x Gates 500 watts combined.
    Pic taken in 1981

    http://s23.postimg.org/5oeztpnjv/ireland_portmarnock_sunshine_539_transmitter.jpgireland_portmarnock_sunshine_539_transmitter.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,139 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    Actually i meant to say on previous post that Long Wave LW 252kHz was Atlantic 252 from about 1989 - 2001.

    I don't recall RTÉ Radio 1 being officially on LW 252kHz and also on Medium Wave 567+729kHz at the same time unless perhaps it was during a short transitional period and for testing purposes.
    i believe radio 1 was on 252 since the shut down of teamtalk in 2002? definitely been on there since 2004

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,704 ✭✭✭Infoanon


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    I believe originally they used 2x Gates 500 watts combined.
    Pic taken in 1981

    http://s23.postimg.org/5oeztpnjv/ireland_portmarnock_sunshine_539_transmitter.jpgireland_portmarnock_sunshine_539_transmitter.jpg

    Thanks Fuzzy Clam, Found an old Sunshine press release from 1981 that confirms their transmitter is a Collins twin with an output of 1kw - I recall their was a 3rd AM in 1983 at the time of the raids which may be the marconi unit ??


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    I would not always find myself in agreement on issues with journalist John Waters however; I found he summed up the key concerns of many radio listeners from at home and abroad about the short notice closure of Long Wave LW 252kHz RTÉ Radio One opt-out from FM very well indeed. The Web URL link given below from this newspaper article is taken from the Irish Independent dated Wednesday 1st of October, 2014:

    http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/rtes-all-too-blunt-message-for-the-irish-diaspora-to-hell-or-the-internet-30628452.html

    Last night, I was listening to John Creedon on his RTÉ Radio One show and John read out various requests and dedications as he often does including one topical one from a listener in the UK who indicated that following the broadcast of last night's show he would no longer be in a position to tune-in following the forthcoming closure of LW 252kHz later this month. Perhaps the listener misunderstood when the service will finally shut down on Long Wave as it remains on LW 252kHz until Monday 27th of October but you certainly could hear the sadness in the message conveyed from a loyal listener upset at the service going from Long Wave altogether. I'm not sure what age bracket the listener was but apparently the listener in question had been tuning since he discovered it on Long Wave around 10 years ago or so and he claimed he had never missed a show in all of that time. What a shame if the said individual is not aware of the other methods or is internet-friendly like some of us now take for granted.

    Senior Citizens used to receiving RTÉ Radio One via AM on radio set, those who have little or no FM reception, Drivers, Commuters in Ireland in addition to Irish expats in Northern Ireland/UK/Western Europe will all be negatively affected by this move.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,309 ✭✭✭former legend


    If John Waters is against it, you can sign me up as fervently in favour of it. His opinion is worth about one-tenth of that of your average internet poster.

    Waters is a chronic whinger with a clear conflict of interest here, in that he has had his share of run-ins with RTE. He even manages to get a dig in at homosexuals as well, just for the sake of it.

    I'm lolling my ass off at his suggestion that we all upgrade to Digital Radio Mondial, but that this somehow doesn't require any additional investment. Yeah John, the elderly in the UK will be flocking out to upgrade to DRM.

    A very poor article that has a few stock phrases about the elderly diaspora but is just a thinly-veiled dig at RTE.


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